Theses and Dissertations Collection

Traditionally, synchronous machine parameters are determined through an offline characterization procedure. The IEEE 115 standard suggests a variety of mechanical and electrical tests to capture the fundamental characteristics and behaviors of a given machine. These characteristics and behaviors can be used to develop and understand machine models that accurately reflect the machine’s performance. To perform such tests, the machine is required to be removed from service.

Characterizing a machine offline can result in economic losses due to down time, labor expenses, etc. Such losses may be mitigated by implementing online characterization procedures. Historically, different approaches have been taken to develop methods of calculating a machine’s electrical characteristics, without removing the machine from service. Using a machine’s input and response data combined with a numerical algorithm, a machine’s characteristics can be determined. This thesis explores such characterization methods and strives to compare the IEEE 115 standard for offline characterization with the least squares approximation iterative approach implemented on a 20 h.p. synchronous machine. This least squares estimation method of online parameter estimation shows encouraging results for steady-state parameters, in comparison with steady-state parameters obtained through the IEEE 115 standard.